Argh Expressing!!!!

[lizsamuel80]

Hi ladies!

I need tips from ladies who solely express. My son is in the NICU and has been since he was born 2 weeks ago so I've been expressing and taking my milk in every day for him. Anyway the past week I've been watching my supply fall just a little. its taking me a lot longer to get the same amount out iykwim.

I've spoken to the lactation consultant on the NICU and she thinks it is stress. So she has given me some meds and herbal capsules which help increase milk supply but it's been 4 days and I've maybe seen a 10ml increase.

It's driving me bonkers all this expressing and to make matters worse I keep sleeping through my alarm! I'm not actually sleeping through it I'm turning it off and going back to sleep. Most nights I skip one feed. ARGH! So much easier getting up for an actual crying baby rather than an alarm and a machine.

Any tips from mums who have been in the same situation feel free to give it. I really want to protect my supply for my little boy.

 

[babymother]

Hope you don't mind me replying. I've not solely expressed.
But I think if you are solely expressing the night feeds are really important for the prolactin levels. It's higher in the evening and at night. It may help if express one more feed at night, if you can manage it. You must be shattered too.
Do you double pump or single pump at one sitting? Would th at make a difference?

Just had a look in my la leche league book, mothering multiples, section on pumping while baby in NICU, the author recommends no less than 8 pumping sessions a day, ideally 10. Taking between 20-30 mins. She also says more frequent pumping in the first 2 weeks after birth is associated with better milk production, for long term too. Don't know if that's helpful but thought I'd let you know

Wishing you all the best

 

[knopk@]

I have spoken to an infant feeding coordinator and she also.said first 2 weeks is feed feed or pump pump or both. What did they gice you for increasing supply, Domperidone? It usually takes about a weeks to work.
Big hugs to you and its going to be worth the effort, do you have his pic to.look at and do you.have hospital grade double pump?

Tapatalking so cant see signatures

 

[l_maclean]

Tweety is something of an expert on exclusive pumping - might be worth giving her a pm if she doesn't see this. X


On my iPhone - so cant see tickers

 

[willowwisp]

You need to empty both boobs at each feed on the dot every three hours around the clock for the first 4-6 weeks.

Do it hands free and both boobs at the same timeif you can. Put on the tv, an audio book, read or do anything other than watch what is going into the bottles.

Pump for 5 minutes after milk has stopped completely.

I'm sure Tweety has other fab tips but thats what got me going in the early days.

 

[Rhino Horn]

Tweety is something of an expert on exclusive pumping - might be worth giving her a pm if she doesn't see this. X


On my iPhone - so cant see tickers

Was going to say exactly the same thing

tapatalking

 

[PyscoFalcon]

Hiya hun.
Katie is 3 weeks tomorrow and I've practically dried up completly

I expressed every 2 to 3 hours but after 5 days I was only getting half an oz per feed. Of course I've had to top up with formula after each express as not getting much but 3 days she's been on pure formula as only getting a few drops.

That's with heat packs and massages.

Really hope the meds help you hun. My breastfeeding clinic has told me best to give up and go pure formula now as just stressing me out.

Hope you get more support than that.

 

[Karate Kid]

I had to pump for seven weeks as C wouldn't latch due tongue tie.

I would get an old sports bra cut to slipts in it so you can pump hands free. As mentioned get some DVDs and just relax whilst watching tv eating and drinking. Try to eat oaty foods like flapjacks and porridge.

As tough as it is pumping through the night is really going to help boost your supply. Pumping with a photo of LO is meant to help. Pump until the last drop then for a little while longer as you will have a second let down.

Kelly mom is brilliant for tips too.

Tweety is our resident expressing expert though and Mrs T is also fab. Hopefully they will see this, if not pm them xx

 

[lizsamuel80]

Thanks Ladies. The nurse said to double pump and I do it at night but I like to have one arm free so I can do stuff and massage. At night I'm currently reliving Game of Thrones before season 3 comes out next month.

Oh and yes I'm on Domperidone so hopefully I'll see a difference in a few more days.

As for photos I haven't put any more on the computer yet. He was smiling yesterday but people you that was just gas but it looked like a smile to me.

 

[sallybee]

Another good idea (from Tweety lol) is to get a waist support band from the pound shop and cut two holes in that. It velcros up so a lot less fiddly than a sports bra IMO.

I can't stress the importance of night pumping enough. I have pumped exclusively for 8 weeks now so did the first two weeks breast feeding, but she would literally want the breast every hour in the night. It's so important to mimic the way a baby would feed if you want to establish a good supply.

At 10 weeks I've managed to drop my 3am express as long as I do it at 12 and 6am so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

You are doing a fab job hun. Good luck xx

 

[lizsamuel80]

With each expression session I get around 100mls. But I don't get the let downs I did when I actually bf. But it is all good tonight I have a parent room on the ward so they will call me for feeds. Yay.

 

[tweetyfoo]

Hiya hun, sorry I've only just seen this.

Firstly - I PROMISE it gets easier

100mls is a bloody amazing amount! I was lucky to get 60ml at that stage.

You need to be expressing a minimum of 8 times in 24 hours. and one of those needs to be between the hourse of 12-4am.

Make sure you are double pumping, get a tubigrip (poundland have them) cut two holes and you have handsfree pumping - you can eat, drink or just chill out when expressing - makes it feel a lot better.

Once you get to around 10 weeks you can start to decrease the amount you are expressing.

Hope this helps hun. Its bloody hard work, but it really is worth it!

PM me anytime hun xx

 

[Kate1985]

Hi liz, harrybwasnalso in scbu for 3 weeks so I expressed and took feeds into him. I egress end 4 weeks after that too because of latching issues. I only ever, and still only ever get 70 - 100ml no matter how often I did it or for how long. Fortunately Harry latches in using nipple shields now and is gaining weight beautifully. I still express once at night when he has a bottle. The nurse is right about stress. I got so upset when Harry was in scbu one nights only got 20ml. I know that leaving a baby behind at the hospital is the hardest thing ever and it's really hard to chill.....but there's nothing like the feeling of getting him home. Work towards that! Expressing is really tough so well done you xxxxx